Hotel Vizualiza
Plovdiv
Metamorphosis of an old cigar factory
In the heart of Plovdiv, beneath the majestic Sahat Tepe, rises the Vizualiza Hotel – an impressive transformation of the former Orel tobacco factory, built in 1890. The history of the place carries the spirit of entrepreneurial courage – from the first Bulgarian cigars produced by the founders Stavridis and Mardas, through modernization by the Italian industrialist Carlo Vaccaro, to nationalization and desolation during socialism.
Today's Vizualiza is the result of a large-scale restoration, in which engineers, architects and restorers breathed new life into the building, combining the industrial character of the 19th century with 5-star luxury. The facade was restored according to a UNESCO-approved project, and the interior impresses with marble inlays, hand-cast friezes with floral motifs, wooden railings, exquisite wrought-iron details and Italian furniture with impeccable silhouettes.
The rooms are spacious, with high ceilings and natural light streaming in through large windows. The decor combines classical harmony and contemporary elegance – a place where history meets modern comfort. From here, you can enjoy a unique view of the Old Town, and your stay will bring you a feeling of immersion in the cultural wealth of Plovdiv.
Meet your hosts:
Melissa and Todor
Restaurant Valere
Our rooms, apartments:
Superior Studio
- Super King Size bed - 30 sq.m
- Air conditioning
- WiFi
- Phone
One-Bedroom Apartment
- Super King Size bed – 33 sq.m
- Air conditioning
- WiFi
- Phone
Deluxe Double Room
- King Size bed - 15 sq.m
- Smart TV
- WiFi
- Minibar
Plovdiv
The Ancient Theater, or How to Get to the Roman Empire
The ancient theater is a time machine and a ticket to the glorious past of the city, which once bore the name Philippopolis and flourished in the Roman Empire. You sit on the cool marble and look back to the 2nd century, when gladiatorial battles and fiery debates took place in the arena. Today, the arena is hot again - pop and rock "gladiators" regularly perform in front of an audience of many thousands. After all, who doesn't want modern panem et circenses ("bread and circuses")?
A magical tour of the Old Town
The next stop is in the magical reality of the Old Town – an impressive architectural reserve and a puzzle of antique shops, wineries, inns, galleries, churches, fortress walls, thermal baths and aqueducts. Here, around every corner, another piece of Plovdiv’s history awaits you. Pay attention to the arched niches, painted with hunting scenes and exquisite landscapes in the rich houses from the 19th century. They are called “alafranga” (“in the French manner”) and are one of the most interesting elements of the urban architecture of the Bulgarian Renaissance, connecting tradition and modernity.
Lunch in Kapana
The network of small streets inevitably leads to Kapana - the most artistic and colorful district of Plovdiv, where it is bustling and boiling around the clock - graffiti crawls, exhibitions are opened, ideas meet. On the way to the next event, be sure to stop by Tams House, where good taste is respected. In the small restaurant on Zagreb Street No. 4, a creative menu, delicious, high-quality and artistically presented food and great service await you.
See also the icons of socialism
The architectural icons of socialism impress, amaze, shock and make you laugh. One of the most curious, exciting and free guided tours in Plovdiv will take you among the monolithic buildings and monumental art of the totalitarian regime that ruled Bulgaria between 1944 and 1989. A great opportunity to learn something new and have some fun.
At sunset in the garden of paradise of the Episcopal Basilica
In the late afternoon, it’s time to open the door of the Episcopal Basilica. A garden of paradise awaits you. The perfect mosaics of birds, rosettes, crosses and meanders in the largest early Christian church in Bulgaria are breathtaking. The peacocks with multi-colored tails, the flashy parrots and the rounded guinea fowls were created from hundreds of multicolored pebbles between the 4th and 6th centuries by talented and patient craftsmen who did not know the modern expression “overtime work”. Their imagination transports you to another time and another world.